CANADA Canada - Amber Manthorne, 40, Port Alberni, BC, 6 July 2022

[Fabled Automatic]

Given the rough location of where Amber's vehicle was found, and the fact that we now know there was a large tote bin and a suitcase seen in her vehicle on camera when it was being driven by Hall, it's fairly reasonable to conclude that Hall must have had assistance (a ride) out of the area with the tote bin and suitcase that were not found in Amber's vehicle. I'm unsure about the suitcase, but the tote bin has yet to be found.

Someone out there likely knows a lot and they need to come forward.

Edit: I suppose it could be equally as likely that Hall ditched the suitcase and tote bin somewhere and then ditched Amber's vehicle, which could have allowed him to walk out instead of relying on a ride.

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Amber's Facebook Profile
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Rough location of where the vehicle was recovered:

View attachment 353757


Friends/family have asked that people do not explore the area, as if RCMP/K9 units need to examine the area again, it can throw the K9 unit off to have so many different scents.

 

[Fabled Automatic]

Port Alberni RCMP released new photos and video, including that of a tote seen in the hatchback of Amber Manthorne's white Jeep Compass while her boyfriend Justin Hall stopped for gas at the Husky station on Third Avenue at 4:50 a.m. July 8, 2022. (SUSIE QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

"Despite numerous investigative efforts along with appeals to the public for information, Amber has not been located," Port Alberni RCMP Const. Beth O'Connor said. "Police believe that Amber's disappearance was a result of foul play and that she's not likely to be found alive."

Port Alberni RCMP appeal for more information in Amber Manthorne disappearance

 

[lynck]

IMO it seems coincidental the vehicle was found a stones throw from a heavy equipment training ground. I sure hope LE did their due diligence and searched that area extensively at the time.

 

[lynck]

This image from this article seems to indicate the location her car was found is different than earlier in this thread.

Also looked at this news story and the image at 00:54 shows the location the jeep was discovered. Google maps/earth don't show green telephone poles on Ninatti Rd, just on Timberlands Rd but on the wrong side when I tried to find this spot Maps has 2014 imagery though. edit: Oddly enough, McGillivary Way does have green telephone poles.

 

[gdalton]

Pretty wild that they've had this video for over 2 years...
Makes you wonder if they have video in the Kamloops case.

 

[lynck]

The video from the gas station that was released can be viewed here

IMO: The tote appears to have a rope tied around it, which could indicate the weight of the contents are sufficient enough to require reinforcement when it is being moved. The contents, however unviewable, appear to bear resemblance to a shower curtain type material

 

[Cedars]

Edit: I suppose it could be equally as likely that Hall ditched the suitcase and tote bin somewhere and then ditched Amber's vehicle, which could have allowed him to walk out instead of relying on a ride.

This was my thought: he had the whole area between Port Alberni and Nanaimo to hide the tote. I assume he was more familiar with the Alberni region plus it's far less populated, lots of logging roads.

Also, I doubt he still had the tote when he bought a ticket at Duke Point. IMO, the fact he was considering that option sort of seems like he was acting alone, but maybe not.

JMO

 

[Cedars]

4:50 am - He got gas in Port Alberni, tried to move the suitcase into the trunk.
7 am - he stopped at McDonald's on Johnston Rd in Port
9 am - "Just over two hours later, he was recorded making a purchase at a Walmart in Nanaimo, investigators said."

Investigators name person of interest in disappearance of Vancouver Island woman

Mounties have released startling new details about their investigation into the disappearance of Amber Manthorne, who was reported missing on Vancouver Island more than two years ago, and is believed to have met with foul play.

bc.ctvnews.ca

According to Gmaps, it's less than 1 hr drive from the McD to the Walmart, but he may have taken time to eat and make decisions.

I think that 2 hr time gap between 5 and 7 am, when he was still in Port Alberni, is when he disposed of her. Who could relax and have breakfast with that tote in the back...Sunrise is just after 5 am that time of year.

JMO

 

[Cedars]

This image from this article seems to indicate the location her car was found is different than earlier in this thread.

Also looked at this news story and the image at 00:54 shows the location the jeep was discovered. Google maps/earth don't show green telephone poles on Ninatti Rd, just on Timberlands Rd but on the wrong side when I tried to find this spot Maps has 2014 imagery though. edit: Oddly enough, McGillivary Way does have green telephone poles.View attachment 538182

I agree, IMO, as usual, social media got the info garbled or perhaps police planted false info about where her vehicle was actually found...so only the driver would know about that true location.

JMO

 

[dotr]

2022

'We are not giving up': Friends expand search for missing Alberni woman

A desperate search continues around Great Central Lake near Port Alberni for missing woman Amber Manthorne.

cheknews.ca

'Oct 16, 2024 #GlobalNews #PortAlberni #VancouverIsland
Mounties say it is unlikely a woman reported missing on Vancouver Island two years ago will be found alive, but they are turning to the public again as their search continues.Amber Manthorne, 40, was reported missing on July 8, 2022, from her home on Central Lake Road in Port Alberni, B.C.Port Alberni RCMP say a person of interest in her disappearance was found deceased last year in Merritt, B.C.However, as Kylie Stanton reports, they are releasing information about him and his last known whereabouts to try and advance the investigation.'

By Bethan Sexton 17 October 2024 VIDEO.

Chilling new surveillance footage after woman mysteriously vanished

Amber Manthorne, 40, disappeared on Vancouver Island on July 7, 2022. Police have since stated they do not believe she will be found alive.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Chilling new surveillance footage after woman mysteriously vanished

Amber Manthorne, 40, disappeared on Vancouver Island on July 7, 2022. Police have since stated they do not believe she will be found alive.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'Detectives suspect foul play and have since named her ex boyfriend Justin Hall as a person of interest.'
In the clip Hall is seen pulling into the Husky gas station in Port Alberni and opening a back seat door.
He takes out a blue suitcase and adjusts the zips before attempting to stash it in the trunk.
He tries to wedge it in the back but is prevented by several other bags including a black tote container.
He then removes the suitcase and places it back into the rear of the vehicle.
'We can't say that her body was in that tote but we don't want to ignore the fact that it has never been recovered,' Sgt. Chet Carroll told BCTV. ''

 

[Fabled Automatic]

I'm unsure about the suitcase, but the tote bin has yet to be found.

I hate to quote myself, but for anyone else that might be curious, according to yesterday's updated timeline, neither the large tote, nor the suitcase has been recovered.

• July 8, 4:50 a.m.: Manthorne’s SUV pulls up to a pump at a Husky station on 3rd Avenue in Port Alberni. Hall gets out of the driver’s seat and goes inside to pay for fuel. He tries to move a suitcase from the back seat to the hatchback but it won’t fit. A large tote that’s already in the hatch and the suitcase have never been recovered;

What happened to Amber Manthorne? Boyfriend identified as suspect in her disappearance

 

[lynck]

Timeline from this MSM post

Port Alberni RCMP outlined the movements of Hall, Manthorne, and her white 2021 Jeep Compass just prior to and following her disappearance in July of 2022.

• July 7, at 3:27 p.m., Manthorne is seen alone on surveillance footage at Buy-Low Foods in Port Alberni. She purchases groceries and leaves in her vehicle.

• On July 7, at 3:35 p.m., a white SUV consistent with Manthorne’s proceeds west on Pacific Rim Hwy. near Tseshaht Market. Manthorne arrives at her home around this time.

• July 8, 12:22 a.m., Justin Hall phones a taxi company from the Petro-Canada service station on River Rd. Twenty-two minutes later a cab is observed on surveillance video near Tseshaht Marke travelling west.

• July 8, at 4:17 a.m., a white SUV consistent with Manthorne’s is captured on surveillance video travelling east on Pacific Rim Hwy. towards Port Alberni.

• July 8, at 04:50 a.m., Manthorne’s vehicle enters the Husky service station on 3rd Ave, Port Alberni. The vehicle pulls up to the pump, Hall exits the driver’s seat, enters the store and pays for gas. Hall tries to place a suitcase from the backseat into the hatchback of the vehicle, but it won’t fit and is returned to the back seat. A tote is in the SUV’s hatchback. The tote and suitcase have not been recovered.

July 8, at 7:02 a.m. Manthorne’s vehicle is observed on surveillance footage at the McDonald’s restaurant on Johnston Rd. where Hall makes a purchase.

• July 8, at 8:00 a.m. Manthorne fails to show up for work.

• July 8, at 9:22 a.m. Hall makes a purchase at Walmart in Nanaimo.

• July 8, at 10:26 a.m. Manthorne’s vehicle is captured on surveillance video at the BC Ferries terminal at Duke Point. Hall, the lone occupant, purchases a ferry ticket and proceeds to the ferry line.

• July 8, at 11:03 a.m. Manthorne’s vehicle is captured on surveillance video leaving the BC Ferry terminal with Hall driving.

• July 9, at 3:08 p.m., Ladysmith RCMP responded to a report and located Manthorne’s vehicle abandoned at McGillivary Way and Creekwood Pl.

 

[HubCitySleuth]

I hate to quote myself, but for anyone else that might be curious, according to yesterday's updated timeline, neither the large tote, nor the suitcase has been recovered.


What happened to Amber Manthorne? Boyfriend identified as suspect in her disappearance

Island Crime had clarified the fact that the suitcase was found originally, just the black tote with the grey lid is being sought after now.

 

[HubCitySleuth]

We need to know what he purchased at Wal Mart in Nanaimo. That could help piece together things between there and the location where her car was found.

 

[Cedars]

Island Crime had clarified the fact that the suitcase was found originally, just the black tote with the grey lid is being sought after now.

Also in that attachment, Island Crime says that both Amber and Justin's phones are missing, but that both phones were connecting with towers in the Valley in the days after she went missing.... I presume that means the Alberni Valley.

It's very odd to me that they were connecting with towers but have not been found, especially since Island Crime also uses the word "days". Does that really mean the phones were active in Port Alberni, after Justin left for Nanaimo on the 8th? I'm hestitant to draw that conclusion, because these details are so crucial to get correct.

But if true, that would indicate Justin (or someone else) went back to Alberni and moved around with the phones, before - presumably - turning them off and ditching them. Possibly that was some kind of effort to mislead police? Yet it makes little sense then, to ditch the car in Nanaimo. If he was trying to create the perception that Amber went to Nanaimo, then if he had his head on straight, her phone should have gone with her.

JMO

 

[Fabled Automatic]

I'm trying to trace Hall's steps between July 8, 2022 when he called a cab from the Petro Can on River road at 12:22 a.m. and 4:50 am when he was seen on camera at the Husky gas station with Amber's vehicle.

According to the timeline, he called from the Petro Can and a cab (not necessarily Hall's) was seen;

"Twenty-two minutes later a cab is observed on surveillance video near Tseshaht Market travelling west."

According to Google Maps, those two places are a 7 minute drive apart.

The Petro Can where Hall called the cab from is a 5 minute drive from United Cabs at 3556 4th Ave, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 4H4 where his cab was dispatched from.

So, between the 5 minute drive from United Cabs to the Petro can, and the 7 minute drive from Petro Can to Tseshaht Market, 9 minutes are unaccounted for. Could be that it took some time between the dispatch and the pickup, or perhaps there was a stop between the pickup and the camera sighting at Tseshaht Market.

I'm sure LE have already interviewed the driver that night. What I want to know is if Hall had any items, or a suitcase with him when he was picked up. If we suspect that Hall was involved in what happened to Amber, as LE does, this could mean the difference between him pre-meditating his actions, vs a spur of the moment act. I'm guessing the Petro-Can where he waited for a cab has CCTV, I would like to see that video evidence to know what, if anything, he had with him.

We can guess that after the camera sighting at Tseshaht Market the cab continued west to Amber's residence at Great Central Lake. Great Central Lake is within 48 minutes of Tseshaht Market. I imagine Amber's residence is closer than 48 minutes because of this detail;

July 7, 2022, at 3:35 p.m., a white SUV consistent with Manthorne’s drives west on Pacific Rim Highway near Tseshaht Market. Manthorne arrives at her residence around this time;

If Amber lived 48 minutes from Tseshaht Market, it likely wouldn't be stated that she arrived home around the same time as being spotted.

Then, 3 hours and 33 minutes later, a white suv (not necessarily Amber's) is seen travelling east toward's Port Alberni;

July 8, at 4:17 a.m., a white SUV consistent with Manthorne’s is captured on surveillance video travelling east on Pacific Rim Hwy. towards Port Alberni.

And is then captured on video at the Husky station at 4:50 am (Google maps says its a Chevron) at 3rd Ave, Port Alberni, where Hall is seen trying to stuff a suitcase in the trunk of the suv where there is already a large tote. After this, Hall is seen 2 hours and 12 minutes later at the Mcdonald's at 3990 Johnston Rd, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 5N5, which is only a 5 minute drive from the Husky gas station.

2 hours and 20 minutes later Hall is observed on camera making a purchase at the Walmart at 6801 Island Hwy N, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N8. These two destinations are 55 minutes apart, according to Google.

Finally, Hall is seen on camera at Duke Point Ferry Terminal, 400 Duke Point Hwy, Nanaimo, BC V9X 1H6, 1 hour and 4 minutes after been seen at the Walmart. The ferry terminal is 26 to 33 minutes from the Walmart.

If we assume that the large tote and/or suitcase is connected to Amber, Hall had 2 hours and 8 minutes to do something with them between the Husky station and the McDonalds, and 1 hour and 25 minutes between the McDonalds and Walmart. I would agree with @Cedars that between the Husky and McDonalds would have been the most opportune time for him to have done something with the tote and suitcase, given he had a lot of time and it was still dark out.

Two takeaways I'd really like to know/see is the CCTV footage, if it exists, of him waiting for the cab at the Petro Can, or if the cab driver can attest to whether or not Hall had any items or luggage with him, and if there is any CCTV footage from the McDonalds that might indicate whether or not the tote and suitcase were still in Amber's vehicle at that time.

Lot of guesses about the routes he may have taken, etc. All my opinion, not stating any facts here besides the verified timeline.

Timeline

 

[Cedars]

I'm trying to trace Hall's steps between July 8, 2022 when he called a cab from the Petro Can on River road at 12:22 a.m. and 4:50 am when he was seen on camera at the Husky gas station with Amber's vehicle.

According to the timeline, he called from the Petro Can and a cab (not necessarily Hall's) was seen;


According to Google Maps, those two places are a 7 minute drive apart.

View attachment 538505

The Petro Can where Hall called the cab from is a 5 minute drive from United Cabs at 3556 4th Ave, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 4H4 where his cab was dispatched from.

View attachment 538590

So, between the 5 minute drive from United Cabs to the Petro can, and the 7 minute drive from Petro Can to Tseshaht Market, 9 minutes are unaccounted for. Could be that it took some time between the dispatch and the pickup, or perhaps there was a stop between the pickup and the camera sighting at Tseshaht Market.

I'm sure LE have already interviewed the driver that night. What I want to know is if Hall had any items, or a suitcase with him when he was picked up. If we suspect that Hall was involved in what happened to Amber, as LE does, this could mean the difference between him pre-meditating his actions, vs a spur of the moment act. I'm guessing the Petro-Can where he waited for a cab has CCTV, I would like to see that video evidence to know what, if anything, he had with him.

We can guess that after the camera sighting at Tseshaht Market the cab continued west to Amber's residence at Great Central Lake. Great Central Lake is within 48 minutes of Tseshaht Market. I imagine Amber's residence is closer than 48 minutes because of this detail;


If Amber lived 48 minutes from Tseshaht Market, it likely wouldn't be stated that she arrived home around the same time as being spotted.

Then, 3 hours and 33 minutes later, a white suv (not necessarily Amber's) is seen travelling east toward's Port Alberni;



View attachment 538513

And is then captured on video at the Husky station at 4:50 am (Google maps says its a Chevron) at 3rd Ave, Port Alberni, where Hall is seen trying to stuff a suitcase in the trunk of the suv where there is already a large tote. After this, Hall is seen 2 hours and 12 minutes later at the Mcdonald's at 3990 Johnston Rd, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 5N5, which is only a 5 minute drive from the Husky gas station.

View attachment 538597

2 hours and 20 minutes later Hall is observed on camera making a purchase at the Walmart at 6801 Island Hwy N, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N8. These two destinations are 55 minutes apart, according to Google.

View attachment 538598

Finally, Hall is seen on camera at Duke Point Ferry Terminal, 400 Duke Point Hwy, Nanaimo, BC V9X 1H6, 1 hour and 4 minutes after been seen at the Walmart. The ferry terminal is 26 to 33 minutes from the Walmart.

View attachment 538599

If we assume that the large tote and/or suitcase is connected to Amber, Hall had 2 hours and 8 minutes to do something with them between the Husky station and the McDonalds, and 1 hour and 25 minutes between the McDonalds and Walmart. I would agree with @Cedars that between the Husky and McDonalds would have been the most opportune time for him to have done something with the tote and suitcase, given he had a lot of time and it was still dark out.

Two takeaways I'd really like to know/see is the CCTV footage, if it exists, of him waiting for the cab at the Petro Can, or if the cab driver can attest to whether or not Hall had any items or luggage with him, and if there is any CCTV footage from the McDonalds that might indicate whether or not the tote and suitcase were still in Amber's vehicle at that time.

Lot of guesses about the routes he may have taken, etc. All my opinion, not stating any facts here besides the verified timeline.

Timeline

Interesting, thanks.

But now, thinking that through, isn't just the taking of the cab pretty suspicious, all on its own?

I can't recall Hall's age, but out here people - all but the eco-sensitive or seriously broke - own their own vehicle, especially someone pretending to be a manly guy. No way do these guys take taxis to visit their ex-girlfriends, he might as well show up in a skirt.

He had a job to get to, so he'd get a loan to buy a car.

Also, potentially problematic, was that hour of the night...wouldn't Amber be asleep (although there is a witness saying she was going to see him...was it really set up for that time)?

IMO, he didn't want his vehicle seen at her home, or contaminated with her DNA. Also the complications of taking her vehicle, leaving his vehicle behind or vice versa.

So I think he had the plan worked out when he called the cab. He could have stashed the tote somewhere and driven there in her car, before going to the Husky.

JMO

 

[Fabled Automatic]

So I think he had the plan worked out when he called the cab. He could have stashed the tote somewhere and driven there in her car, before going to the Husky.

JMO

Interesting theory!

These are the last two confirmed sightings of Amber, that the public knows of;

July 7, 2022, at 3:27 p.m., Manthorne is seen alone on CCTV at Buy-Low Foods in Port Alberni. She purchases some grocery items and leaves in her vehicle;

July 7, 2022, at 3:35 p.m., a white SUV consistent with Manthorne’s drives west on Pacific Rim Highway near Tseshaht Market. Manthorne arrives at her residence around this time;

If we're taking that witness's statement at face value, and knowing Amber had to get up for work in the morning, are you thinking Hall visited her earlier on the night of July 7, after she arrived home, and before he may have returned to her place in a cab after midnight the morning of July 8, with a plan to get rid of Amber, who was already deceased?

Knowing what he did or did not have with him when he was picked up by the cab could potentially make or break that theory.

Edit: If Hall had the suitcase and the tote already at Amber's house and they were already in her suv, why might he have tried to rearrange them at the Husky station rather than trying to put them both in the trunk at Amber's place? Perhaps he stopped at his own place after leaving Amber's and before the Husky station, to pack/bring a suitcase of his own belongings, since we know he had been planning (attempted) to leave the island. But even still, why bother moving the suitcase to the trunk?

 

[HubCitySleuth]

Also in that attachment, Island Crime says that both Amber and Justin's phones are missing, but that both phones were connecting with towers in the Valley in the days after she went missing.... I presume that means the Alberni Valley.

It's very odd to me that they were connecting with towers but have not been found, especially since Island Crime also uses the word "days". Does that really mean the phones were active in Port Alberni, after Justin left for Nanaimo on the 8th? I'm hestitant to draw that conclusion, because these details are so crucial to get correct.

But if true, that would indicate Justin (or someone else) went back to Alberni and moved around with the phones, before - presumably - turning them off and ditching them. Possibly that was some kind of effort to mislead police? Yet it makes little sense then, to ditch the car in Nanaimo. If he was trying to create the perception that Amber went to Nanaimo, then if he had his head on straight, her phone should have gone with her.

JMO

You and I are on the same page, my friend! I ABSOLUTELY agree with all points you have made. Someone else is in on it I think.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Three thoughts questions that come to mind, not sure if already posed:

1. I wonder if any of Amber's friends/family recognize the tote and/or suitcase as being from Amber's house/home storage or garage (if she had one). Have they been seen before by people that knew her?

2. If they were texting during the night and she agreed he could come over "to talk" or even dare I say "booty call" kind of situation between exes... maybe he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol so promised or told her he'd take a cab? I do not think this crime was planned, but rather things escalated to acts of violence one final time.

3. Weird thing to note - but IIRC it's a common thing that killers often eat after their crime